Hatch has been silent on whether he will run for an eighth term in 2018 and may make his decision by the end of the year.

His reluctance to make a final decision may present obstacles for other candidates considering jumping into the 2018 race. However, Romney is said to have the finances and backing to launch a campaign regardless of when Hatch makes his final decision.

According to a poll by Utah Policy, Romney had an advantage over Democrat Jenny Wilson in the Senate race, tracking 64 percent of the vote compared with her 26 percent.

Earlier this year, Hatch said he would consider stepping aside if Romney were to run for his seat, The Hill reported.

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